THE RISE OF THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE INSECT
“The urge to do something to save a dying planet coincides with a very adventurous time in eating,” says entomological entrepreneur Julia Plevin.
The global population, now at more than 7 billion, may grow to 9 billion by 2050. Already, nearly 1 billion people regularly go hungry. Insects–a source of protein that requires a fraction of the land, water, and feed as livestock–could help alleviate the looming crisis. “The case needs to be made to consumers that eating insects is not only good for their health, it is good for the planet,” the authors wrote. Knops and Plevin figured that while cricket-based bitters might not solve the food problem, the product could help overcome a psychological one. “People are more open to trying new things when there are cocktails involved,” Plevin says.
The Thai love fried locusts. South Africans munch on caterpillars. At least 2 billion people worldwide regularly eat insects, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Nutritionally, they are hard to beat: Insects are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and “good” fats. More than 2,000 species have reportedly been used as food–and with a million insect species and counting, more are sure to be found.
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